Los Angeles activist Jonathan Hale was arrested on Sunday in Westwood for painting crosswalks at intersections he deemed dangerous.
Hale, a member of the activist group People’s Vision Zero, took action after claiming the city ignored repeated requests for safety improvements. He has been advocating for safer streets by reaching out to Mayor Karen Bass’s office for months, but says he received no response.
According to FOX 11, Hale was handcuffed and detained by police officers who accused him of vandalizing city property without a permit. “You’re vandalizing city property without a permit,” an officer said in a video shared with the news outlet. Hale explained to the officer that his group was protesting for safer streets and a more effective government.
Hale’s group has been painting crosswalks across Los Angeles since May, aiming to draw attention to the city’s unmet commitment to Vision Zero, a plan to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2025. Hale said:
“In 2015, the city committed to Vision Zero, which is the idea that we’re going to have zero traffic fatalities by the year 2025 and we failed abysmally. So now we’ve established the people’s Vision Zero to draw attention to the issue.”
The actions of Hale and his group have sparked mixed reactions among residents. Some view it as civic activism, while others believe it is not their role to make such changes. Westwood resident Beatriz Cantelmo remarked, “On the one hand, they are taking matters into their own hands and trying to be good citizens. On the other hand, it’s really not their role.”
Despite his arrest, Hale remains committed to his cause. He plans to continue painting crosswalks wherever he believes they are needed, emphasizing the urgency of addressing traffic safety issues.
“I think people’s lives are on the line if we don’t work with urgency to address some of these issues. You’re more likely to get hit by a car or die in traffic violence than you are to get murdered in the city of Los Angeles.”
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